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Mission

In Home Tennessee is a collaboration between the Department of Children’s Services, local community agencies and advocates across the state who are creating a stronger net of support for vulnerable families whose children are at risk of entering state custody.

In Home Tennessee supports and enhances the DCS Mission of ensuring forever families for children and youth by delivering high-quality, evidence-based services in partnership with the community.

This initiative encourages and supports families’ involvement in making decisions for their children. In-home services come in a variety of forms, including parenting classes to teach better coping and care-giving skills; in-home counseling; drug and alcohol rehabilitation assistance, among other services.

About In Home Tennessee

Working together with community partners, DCS is improving the practiceof child welfare, as well as the quality and delivery of in-home servicesoffered to Tennessee families and their children, while maintaining their safety at home.

In our effort to enhance both the state’s practice and services, the Department has partnered with communities, service providers, school officials, resource parents, other governmental departments, law enforcement, and more.

Region by region, these partners completed a community assessmentof current practices and services and worked hand-in-hand with DCS to address region-specific identified needs to strengthen our communities’ ability to care for our most vulnerable citizens, our children. Together, we are working to improve the access to and quality of services and enhance how we all work with families in need. Additionally, DCS, alongside our partners conducted trainings for community child welfare workers to hone the skills, strategies, and responsibilities essential to the in-home services population.

This initiative strongly encourages and supports families' involvement in making decisions for their children. When families are struggling and DCS assistance is needed, services are most effective when the inherent talents, skills, and abilities of both the family and the community are mobilized.

In Home Tennessee works to:

Assist families in providing safe care for their children within their homes and communities.

Assist families in developing their protective capacities.

Assist families in gaining access, developing, and using resources to effectively meet their needs.

Assist families to reduce risk in order to prevent repeat maltreatment.

For more specific information on the In Home Tennessee initiative, review the overarching framework here.

In Home Tennessee Implementation

Click on a region name to get updated information regarding that region’s implementation progress.